IT Specialist (APPSW)

Summary

Join NIH as an IT Specialist Applications Software (APPSW) supporting clinical research IT systems. You'll plan and lead software testing, develop and execute test plans, identify and track defects, coordinate testing activities, and provide technical recommendations that help ensure reliable system releases supporting patient care and clinical research.

Duties

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• Plan and coordinate software testing activities for clinical research information systems, applications, integrations, releases, upgrades, and production changes.
• Review business, functional, and technical requirements and develop test plans, test cases, test scripts, test data, and testing criteria.
• Execute and document functional, integration, system, regression, performance, usability, and acceptance testing.
• Identify, document, track, and retest software defects and incidents to verify corrective actions and validate system changes.
• Evaluate test results and risks, communicate findings and testing status, and provide technical recommendations supporting release-readiness decisions.
• Prioritize testing assignments, coordinate testing resources, and provide technical direction to personnel supporting testing activities.
• Test clinical information systems, custom applications, system integrations, and software across multiple user platforms and environments.
• Participate in release-readiness and go/no-go discussions by reporting critical defects, testing risks, unresolved issues, and overall test status.
• Coordinate with developers and technical teams to validate corrective actions, perform retesting, and confirm that system changes meet established requirements.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
• Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement, including time in grade.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
• Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period.
• If selected, and based on duty location, you must pass a pre-employment medical examination, provide evidence of immunization, and be free from communicable diseases.
• The work is sedentary.
• Some work may require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the work site.
• The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.
• The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions.
• Some employees may occasionally be exposed to uncomfortable conditions in such places as research facilities.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for a IT Specialist (APPSW), GS-2210 position, you must have IT related experience demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience obtained in either the private or public sector, and/or completion of specific, intensive training that demonstrates all of the following four competencies:

1. Attention to Detail - is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail; and

2. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services; and

3. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately; and

4. Problem Solving - identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

In order to qualify for a IT Specialist (APPSW), GS-2210 position at the GS-12 grade level, if you meet the following qualification requirements:

You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: 1) Reviewing business, functional, or technical requirements to identify testing needs and expected system behavior; 2) Developing and executing test plans, test cases, or test scripts for software applications using testing methods such as functional, integration, system, regression, performance, usability, or acceptance testing; 3) Identifying, documenting, and tracking software defects or incidents, including retesting corrected defects and validating that changes meet established requirements; 4) Preparing or coordinating test data, test environments, and testing activities associated with software releases, upgrades, or production changes; and 5) Communicating test results, defects, risks, and testing status to developers, project teams, customers, or other stakeholders.

AND, you qualify at the GS-13 level, if you meet the following qualification requirements:

You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: 1) Independently planning and coordinating software testing efforts across applications, projects, releases, upgrades, or production changes; 2) developing test plans, criteria, test cases, or test scripts within established testing methodologies based on system requirements, technical risks, and expected application behavior; 3) evaluating test results and software defects to identify risks, determine additional testing needs, and provide technical recommendations regarding release readiness; 4) prioritizing and coordinating testing assignments or resources and providing technical direction to other personnel supporting testing activities; and 5) tracking and communicating critical testing issues, coordinating retesting following corrective actions, and communicating testing status, risks, findings, and recommendations to technical teams, customers, project stakeholders, or management.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.

Preview application questionnaire before you apply:

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

• This position is designated as a "non-emergency/teleworker" position and the selected candidate will be considered a "non-emergency/teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.
• PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should apply online to this announcement to receive consideration.
• A newly appointed or reappointed individual may receive a recruitment incentive. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
• A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for prior work experience or active-duty uniformed service that otherwise would not be creditable for the purpose of determining his or her annual leave accrual rate. All creditable service must be directly related to the duties of the position being filled and decisions to allow for such credit must be finalized prior to the selectee's entrance on duty. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
• If selected, you may be eligible to receive a salary above the minimum based on superior qualifications and/or a special need of the Government for your services. This applies to employees paid under the General Schedule (GS) and Federal Wage System (FWS) pay systems and is at the discretion of the hiring manager. A salary above the minimum must be approved before the appointment.
• At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: telework compressed schedules, flexible schedules.
• A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
• Visit Help Applying for helpful information on the application process.
• Military Spouses selected from this announcement will remain in their current duty location (i.e., the official duty station of the military service member.
• If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: Reasonable Accommodation Information.
• Veterans' Preference only applies to Schedule A (disability appointment), HHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL) Eligibles, HHS Priority Reemployment List (PRL) Eligibles, and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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